**Summary:**
The Indian Coast Guard's (ICG) annual "Operation Olivia" successfully protected a record of over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha during February 2025. The operation, conducted annually from November to May, focuses on ensuring safe nesting grounds for these endangered turtles, particularly at Gahirmatha Beach and surrounding areas. The ICG's efforts included extensive surface patrols (5,387 sorties) and aerial surveillance (1,768 missions), leading to the detention of 366 boats engaged in illegal fishing. The ICG also collaborated with local fishing communities and NGOs to promote sustainable fishing practices and conservation education, including the use of Turtle Excluder Devices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The government ministry responsible for defense matters; the initiator of Operation Olivia, according to the text.
Operation Olivia: The Indian Coast Guard's annual mission to protect Olive Ridley turtles, conducted from November to May.
ICG: Indian Coast Guard, the organization responsible for executing Operation Olivia.
Olive Ridley Turtles: The endangered species being protected by Operation Olivia.
Odisha Coastline: The geographical area where the Olive Ridley turtles are being protected.
19 MAY 2025: Date of the press release regarding Operation Olivia.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the posted information.
February 2025: The month when a record number of Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth.
Rushikulya river mouth: A specific nesting site in Odisha for Olive Ridley turtles.
Gahirmatha Beach: An important nesting ground for Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha.
Odisha: The state in India where the Olive Ridley turtles' nesting grounds are located.
Turtle Excluder Devices: Devices promoted by the ICG to local fishing communities to protect turtles.
NGOs: Non-governmental organizations partnering with ICG through MoUs to support sustainable fishing practices and conservation education.
MoUs: Memoranda of Understanding, formal agreements between ICG and NGOs.
SRKB: Likely the initials of the releasing officer. Not definitively defined in the provided text.
2129578: Release ID number of the press release.
Ministry of Defence
Operation Olivia: ICG protects over 6.98 lakh Olive
Ridley Turtles along the Odisha Coastline
Posted On: 19 MAY 2025 1:07PM by PIB Delhi
In a major boost to marine conservation, the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) annual mission ‘Operation Olivia’
helped protect a record of over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha
during February 2025. Conducted annually from November to May, Operation Olivia is an important
initiative of the ICG aimed at ensuring safe nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles particularly at
Gahirmatha Beach and surrounding coastal areas of Odisha, which see the arrival of over eight lakh turtles
each year. The record mass nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha stands as a testament to the ICG’s
sustained efforts in safeguarding the endangered species through rigorous patrolling, aerial surveillance, and
community engagement.
Since the inception of Operation Olivia, ICG has carried out over 5,387 surface patrol sorties & 1,768 aerial
surveillance missions, significantly reducing threats such as illegal fishing and habitat disruption. During this
period, 366 boats involved in illegal fishing were detained, reaffirming the ICG’s strong enforcement role in
protecting marine life. Apart from surveillance, ICG has actively worked with local fishing communities by
promoting the use of Turtle Excluder Devices and partnering with NGOs through formal MoUs to support
sustainable fishing practices and conservation education.
***
SR/KB
(Release ID: 2129578)